Feb. 26, 2007 :: No. 135

Some 18,000 people each year are trafficked into the United States as slaves, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Worldwide, the number is estimated at 700,000.

Women, men and children are being sold as slaves in the sex trade or labor industry throughout the world. Some of the victims are kidnapped, others are lied to and exploited, and some fall victims to false promises of employment. Whatever the case, human trafficking has become the fastest-growing illegal business next to drug and weapons dealing.

Cal State Fullerton is presenting a public conference March 5 and 6 on the subject, in an effort to raise awareness and encourage attendees to take action against it.

Featured speakers at the “Human Trafficking: Modern-Day Slavery in Southern California Conference” will be: Arlene Irion, chief of the Orange County branch of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Austin Choi-Fitzpatrick, outreach coordinator of San Diego Youth and Community Services; Dottie Laster, administrator of the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force; Derek Marsh, a Westminster Police lieutenant; Mark Abend, senior special agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Marisa Ugarte, director of the Bilateral Safety Corridor Coalition; Anne Dunn, senior project coordinator of the Commission on the Status of Women; and Rohida Khan, trafficking victim services coordinator of the Salvation Army.

The free event is one of several planned during CSUF’s celebration of Women’s History Month. Held in the Titan Student Union, the conference is hosted by the university’s Women’s Center, Women Studies Program, Human Services Student Association, Student Affairs, Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority and the Orange County Human Trafficking Committee.

The hours are 5:30 to 9 p.m. March 5, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 6.

Other Women’s History Month programs, lectures and concerts scheduled include:

• March 1, 1 p.m., University Hall, Room 205: “Global Women’s Strike Wages for Housework Campaign”
• March 2, 8 p.m., Meng Concert Hall: Sixth annual “Women in New Music Festival, Zeitgeist Concert”
• March 3, 8 p.m., Meng Concert Hall: Sixth annual “Women in New Music Festival, Meredith Monk Concert”
• March 4, 4 p.m., Meng Concert Hall: Sixth annual “Women in New Music Festival, CSUF Symphony Orchestra with Tania Leon”
• March 5, 1 p.m., Pollak Library, Room-130: Zoe Nicholson, activist and writer, presents “A Lifetime of Activism.”
• March 7, noon, University Hall, Room 205: Marjorie Jolles, assistant professor of women’s studies, presents “Oprah as Philosopher.”
• March 8, 1 p.m., University Hall, Room 205: Annalisa Enrile, of GABRIELA network, presents “Philippine Women and Activism.”
• March 8, 7 p.m., University Hall, Room 205: Teatro Milagro presents “Frida.”
• March 12, 7 p.m., Humanities-Social Sciences Building, Room 322: Natalie Fousekis, assistant professor of history, presents the film “Miss America” and leads discussion.
• March 13, noon, University Hall, Room 205: Maryam Sayyedi, lecturer in counseling, presents “The Psychology of Middle Eastern Women.”
• March 14, noon, University Hall, Room 205: Rebekah Smart, assistant professor of counseling, presents “Eating and Mindfulness: How to Enjoy and Celebrate With Food Without Binging On It.
• March 14, 1 p.m., Pollak Library, Room 130: Jennifer Abod, filmmaker, screens “Look Us in the Eye: The Old Women’s Project” and leads discussion.
• March 15, 10 a.m., Titan Student Union: Conference on “Scholarship on Women and Gender at CSUF”
• March 19, 10 a.m., Titan Student Union: Lucia Munoz presents “Guatemalan Women Here and There.”
• March 20, noon, University Hall, Room 205: Stacy Mallicoat, assistant professor of criminal justice, presents “Lives in Transition: Strategies for Women Exiting From Prostitution.”
• March 20, 7 p.m., University Hall, Room 252: Anthropology Student Association presents the film “Dam/Age: Arundhati Roy.”
• March 21, 11 a.m., Quad: Orange County Providers Resource Fair presents opportunities to volunteer with organizations that serve women.
• March 21, 7 p.m., Langsdorf Hall, Room 321: Anthropology Student Association presents the film “Born into Brothels.”
• March 23, 8 a.m., Titan Student Union: Teen Summit with keynote speaker Erin Gruwell, the teacher who inspired the film “Freedom Writers."
  

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